Fox Quietly Debuts New Ramsay Show...
and it stinks big time. Gordon in a studio "live" teaching celebrities (Leanne Rymes, Cedrick The Entertainer, and some other actress) to cook in front of a studio audience while he does his profanity free pseudo "ad lib" patter, and gags with hidden props, and a kindergarten cooking class; with a wall of monitors of remote shots in home kitchens throughout the U.S., including Whoopi Goldberg, cooking along.
The only thing missing is a studio band.
They cooked a chili pepper and shrimp with spaghetti appetizer, which looked edible, steak diane that looked disgusting and a tirimisu in a martini glass.
Don't waste your time watching this formulaic, fourth rate TV show, it makes Hells Kitchen look like the CIA.
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I can't quite make out Gordon Ramsay. He veers from making some of the best food television out there to total unwatchable idiocy.
1. BRITISH Kitchen Nightmares.
Thoroughly enjoyable. It is clear that Ramsay cares about helping the clients and the restaurant. His narration helps explain his process. Sometimes hard to watch. Still enjoyable.
2. US Kitchen Nightmares.
Unwatchable. The heavy-handed narration robbed Ramsay of any chance to seem compassionate until the last few moments of the episode. The drama is pushed to maximum and the show falls apart for me.
3. Hell's Kitchen.
Good God NO!
4. The F Word.
Exceptional, enjoyable, informative, fun, light-hearted. Gordon seems pleasant and likable. He seems like the man I have heard described to me by former colleagues rather than the shouting oaf of Hell's Kitchen.
5. Cookalong.
Hard to watch. Disjointed, frenetic, unenjoyable.
In his defense, Jamie's cooking live specials haven't been any more watchable as good TV.
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re: Atahualpa
ChinoWayne
Dec 20, 2009 09:16 AM
It seems UK television producers have more respect for their audience, as opposed to US television producers who pander to the lowest common denominator in an effort to extract the most revenue from the masses.
Ramsay is likely cooperating with the US producers because of the king's ransom they are paying him, hard to turn down that kind of a payday.
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The is an even worse downside....in addition to our wasting an otherwise useful hour of our lives....some similar show may not be given a chance because this was such a colossal failure.
Yes, I'm bitter. I really thought my Mr Shallots might learn something from the show.
Talk about ruining a concept.
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lawyerlady
Dec 16, 2009 07:23 AM
ChinoWayne, I have to agree. I'm a Ramsay fan and I liked Kitchen Nightmares and Hell's Kitchen. But this was totally different. It was too rushed, he seemed nervous and not showing the personality I came to expect from the other two shows, and the dishes were very elementary. The only way this could get better is if there are less celebrities so Ramsay can focus more on the cooking. The concept of cooking along is interesting, but the dishes need to be more interesting as well.
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Well, I did learn one thing by watching. I didn't know that rolling a pepper around before cutting would free the seeds. Not a bad tip.
But, wow, didn't that steak look appalling? To be fair, though, the "recap" version looked much better. Shows what you can do when you actually measure your ingredients and pay attention to what you're dumping in the pan.
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LindaWhit
Dec 16, 2009 05:21 AM
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/673706
As I said in an earlier thread - the bits and pieces I watched were WAY too frenetic and confusing. Hated the panel of monitors, disliked most of the "celebrities" who couldn't keep up.
But I do think this was a one-shot deal, not a new series. Perhaps they were testing it (it only lasted 1 season in the U.K., I think).
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re: LindaWhit
I think LindaWhit's description of it being frenetic might be the best and most concise and true review ever tagged onto a cooking show.
It WAS uncomfortable to watch.
The starlets were at best irritating and was one of them drunk or just foolish?Mr Shallots and I decided it was what's wrong with TV. Take a concept and turn it into a mess designed to appeal to an audience with a two minute attention span.
Once again US TV ignores the potential of attracting an audience who have an interest in eating. Gosh, gee whillikers, we do it at least three times a day. Maybe we'd like to know more.
That set did have some money poured into it with four identical work stations. Unless they found a theater in the round...where did the firemen come from and has Whoppi ever looked more irritated?
Strange use of an hour.
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re: shallots
LindaWhit
Dec 16, 2009 07:20 AM
Agree on Whoopi being irritated. Ummm, didn't she KNOW it was going to be busy-busy-busy trying to get stuff done in 1 hour? I'm sure she didn't even do the prep on the mise beforehand. All she had to do was listen and dump and stir!
And she likes her steak well-done. 'Nuf said.
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re: LindaWhit
Whoopi looked pissed, but not as pissed as Cedric. I don't think he cracked a smile once during the whole hour. And it was even more noticeable than it was with Whoopi since he was on camera for almost the entire show. He REALLY looked like he regretted ever signing on for this disaster. Allison and LeAnne were better at keeping up the "cheerful" faces. What a mess.
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re: LindaWhit
Not so much a season in the UK, Linda. Just a couple of one-off "specials" - on Channel 4 (which means there was about 17 of us watching)
Sounds like a repeat of the formula over here. All part of Brand Ramsey which now includes "helping real people to cook".
I watched a bit of the first show here but didnt bother with the second.
Question......will Royal Hospital Road keep all three of its Michelin stars when the list is announced next month?
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re: Clarkafella
HabaneroJane
Dec 16, 2009 05:12 PM
it wasa a horrible show...like hollywood squares gone bad in a kitchen....too bad paul lynde wasnt around to save it..
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re: chicgail
LindaWhit
Dec 17, 2009 04:40 AM
And a whole generation of readers who missed one of the best one-line snarky comics ever. :-) His "zingers" were always the best! http://www.classicsquares.com/lyndesq...
Peter Marshall: What is a pullet?
Paul Lynde: A little show of affection...Peter Marshall: It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics. What is the other?
Paul Lynde: Tape measures.-
re: LindaWhit
Linda Whit for the win! I was too young to appreciate Paul Lynde, but do remember him well.
As for the Ramsey show the other night, I saw the first 30 seconds as he came out and introduced it. It was so slick and smarmy that it made me feel dirty. Off it went. Glad to see I made a good call (thought, I'm sure I went on to watch something equally forgettable).
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re: LindaWhit
HabaneroJane
Dec 17, 2009 06:50 AM
You know it's a bad show when the entire thread turns into an homage to the late, great Paul Lynde. I love it! hahahahah.
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re: HabaneroJane
ChinoWayne
Dec 17, 2009 08:23 AM
Cooking show I could watch: Graham Kerr & Paul Lynde in "Paul's Kitchen".
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re: chicgail
a_and_w
Dec 20, 2009 08:01 AM
My friend has the best Paul Lynde story ever. Lynde was on a airplane and a kid kept kicking his seat. This went on for most of the flight, until Lynde finally turned around and glared at the mother. "Lady," he said in that distinctive voice, "if you don't stop your kid kicking my seat, I'm gonna %$#@ him!"
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